Editorial: Looking forward to a lively year

Our view: The top stories of 2013 will include bans on many things, a special election that is largely ignored and wild animals.

There's a curse that comes with longevity, and that curse is thinking you've seen it all before. And that begets another curse, which is thinking you can predict the future.

Now that we're done recounting the top stories of 2012, it's time to look at more pressing matters — the top stories of 2013. Consider it a public service.

The Chico City Council votes to ban plastic bags to protect the environment. When informed that the increased use of paper bags kills more trees, the council bans paper bags, too. When told that most reusable bags are made in China and have an enormous carbon footprint, reusable bags are banned as well. Consumers are told to come to the store with loose pants and large pockets in order to carry their groceries home.

An exasperated California State Parks throws up its hands and gives Bidwell Mansion to the city of Chico. The state agency blames a community fundraising group, the Bidwell Mansion Community Project, for having the gall to ask how its five-figure donations were being spent. "If people are going to demand accountability," a State Parks spokesperson said, "well, that's something we just aren't accustomed to doing."

Congress makes all citizens squirm for a few days, then solves the whole fiscal cliff dilemma in a matter of hours at the end of this week. The negotiations leading up to the agreement are not nearly as contentious as the subsequent wrangling over which political party deserves the most credit for the agreement.

Buoyed by the fact people actually turned up to shop when "Black Friday" sales crept up into Thanksgiving night, several major retailers agree to start a new tradition of post-Thanksgiving sales starting Jan. 25 this year. "What?" said one chain's marketing director. "Thanksgiving was two months ago; you can't say this isn't post-Thanksgiving."

Chips the bobcat, rescued by firefighters during last year's Chips Fire in the Lake Almanor area, is forced to undergo anger-enhancement treatments. After a few weeks of training, the bobcat hisses and snarls at everything except firefighters. Deemed unfit to be released, Chips becomes the mascot of the Almanor fire station. Firefighters can leave the station unlocked without having to worry about theft.

Wolf OR-7, the wandering gray wolf that spent much of the fall and winter in the high country between Butte Meadows and Lake Almanor, returns to his home state of Oregon. He came to California looking for a mate but said the popular image of plentiful "California girls" is vastly overrated.

Just as the wolf leaves, a male grizzly comes down from Idaho. He had read about the suddenly prolific salmon runs in the Sacramento River, saw the grizzly on the state flag and never realized he'd be all alone here. By December, he is headed back to Idaho.

Worried about the issue of birds gathering at airports in Butte County, primary and secondary schools relocate their music programs to their closest runways. Music educators are able to continue their music programs, especially containing drums and horns, which scare away the birds. The grateful Federal Aviation Administration funnels airport improvement taxes into the program, and school music is saved.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. owner Ken Grossman, who loves collaborating with other craft brewers, decides to help out two of the nation's largest brewers, Budweiser and Coors, by sharing his beer recipes. Coors and Bud are stunned. They never realized you are supposed to add hops.

After two tornadoes in Butte County the past two years, a hurricane hits. Global warming enthusiasts immediately blame Anthony Watts.